It's a golden evening for Oldham Community Radio

The local station claimed the top accolade in the ‘News, Journalism and Factual Storytelling’ category at the prestigious ceremony held in Cardiff. Image courtesy of Ken Bennett

The highs and lows of the Oldham Coliseum story featured in Oldham Community Radio 99.7fm's award-winning entry in the 2024 Community Radio Awards.

The local station claimed the top accolade in the ‘News, Journalism and Factual Storytelling’ category at the prestigious ceremony held in Cardiff yesterday (Saturday),

The awards are the Oscars of community broadcasting and since the station launched in 2007, it underpinned  accolades for its specialist music output, news and features and has been a previous UK Station of the Year winner.

In 2022, the station was awarded Gold in a special one-off category for ‘Covid and Community Rebuild’ following the pandemic, for its innovative “Tommyfield Live” Saturday lunchtime programme which featured guests and musicians and takes radio out of its traditional studio setting, onto a Radio Theatre Stage in the station’s Tommyfield Indoor Market studios. 

Last year, the prestigious Community Radio ‘Honours’ Award was, unusually, awarded posthumously to the station’s founder David McGealy.

This year’s success was praised by judges as “a well-produced piece with lots of heart” and featured conversations with key players in the battle to save Oldham Coliseum theatre. 

Producer Ian Wolstenholme said: “This is a wonderful recognition of the dedication of many supporters of one of the country’s most famous producing theatres. 

“When you point a microphone in the direction of passionate people with a story to tell, it’s an incredible feeling and hits at the very core of what community radio is all about. 

“All the entries in this category were examples of local news and storytelling at its very best."

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.